String-holding means for pianos and the like.



E. R. AYRES.

STRING HOLDING MEANS FOR PIANOS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILE-D was 5 I916.

1,21 1,658. Patented Jan. 9,1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST R. AYRES, 0F HUTCHINSON, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MARTIN R. BENSON, OF HARPER, KANSAS.

STRING-HOLDING MEAN S FOR PIANOS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1917.

Original application filed December 18, 1913, Serial No. 807,532. Patent No. 1,181,422, dated May 2, 1916.

Divided and this application filed June 5, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ERNEsT R. AYnEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hutchinson, in the county of Reno and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful String-Holding Means for Pianos and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to binding posts for use in connection with the strings of a piano or like instrument, the same being a division of an application filed by me on December 18, 1913, Serial No. 807,532, and which has issued as Patent No. 1,181,422, dated May 2, 1916.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide improved means whereby a binding post can be used both as a means for holding a bridge to a sounding board and also as a means for fastening strings to the bridge.

A further object is to provide a binding post which exerts a constant pressure through a spring holding device upon the strings, said strings being held crimped so that the holding means will not become displaced relative thereto.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred forms of the invention have been shown.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation of the sounding board and string plate of a piano and showing the structure in which the same is mounted, said sounding board having a bridge with which are combined binding posts such as constitute the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of a bridge and binding post, portions of the strings being shown. Fig. 3 is a section on line A-B Fig. 2. F1g. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modified form of binding means. Fig. 5 is a section on line CD Fig. 2.

Referring to the figures by characters of Serial No. 101,810.

reference 1 designates a string plate preferably of the form shown in my patent hereinbefore referred to and which plate has an opening 2 through which is exposed the sounding board 3 and into which extends the bridge 1. The strings have been indicatcd at 5 and are grouped in the usual way, these strings being connected to pins 6 and being extended over the bridge 4. At the point where the strings are extended over the bridge pins 7 are extended through the bridge and also through the sounding board, each of said pins being provided with a head 8 engaging the sounding board 3. One string of each group is preferably extended through the pins 7, as indicated at 5. Transverse grooves 9 are provided in the face of the bridge 4, each of these grooves having one of the pins 7 extending through the center thereof. The grooves are preferably disposed approximately at right angles to the strings 5 and secured to the bridge 4 close to and parallel with each side of each groove 9 is a bearing 9 preferably of wire and which may have prongs 10 extending downwardly from the ends thereof and into the bridge. A restraining pin 11 is extended diametrically through each pin 7 and parallel with the groove 9 and the bearing members 9. The wires 5 extend over the bearing members 9 and are crimped so as to extend under the restraining pins 11. The middle wire of the group where three wires are used, is extended preferably through the pin 7 as shown. By assembling the parts as described it will be seen that the wires will be held securely bound upon the bearing members 9 and at the same time the pins 7 will hold the bridge 4 securely to the sounding board 3. Instead of providing the bearing members 9 and a separate restraining pin 11, a combined bearing and restraining element such as shown in Fig. 4: may be used. This consists of a wire bent to S shape, the intermediate portion 12 constituting the wire restraining or depressing means while the end portions 13 extend under the wires and constitute bearings therefor.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with a sounding board, strings and a bridge, there being a transverse groove in the face of the bridge and extending at right angles to the strings,

of a binding post extending through the bridge and the groove, string bearing ele ments upon the bridge at the sides of the groov and a string retaining member extending through the post and parallel with the groove, said bearing elements and retaining member being integral.

2. The combination with a sounding board and a bridge, said bridge having a transverse groove therein, of strings extending at right angles across the groove and having crimps extending into the groove, binding post extending through the bridge and groove, bearing members upon the bridge and adjacent the sides of the groove, said members being engaged by the strings, and means extending through the post for holding the crimps in the strings projected into the groove, said holding means and bearing members being integral.

3. The combination With a sounding board and a bridge, said bridge having a transverse groove therein, of strings extending at right angles across the groove and having crimps extending into the groove, a binding post extending through the sounding board, and the bridge and groove, bearing members upon the bridge and adjacent the sides of the groove, said members being engaged by the strings, means extending through the post for holding the crimps in the strings projected into the groove, and a head upon the binding post and engaging one face of the sounding board, said binding post and string engaging means cooperating to fasten the bridge to the sounding board. in testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto allixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ERNEST R. AYRES.

Witnesses G. L. VEATGH, L. S. DAVIS.

@opies 0:9. this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner at Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

